bungstarter

English

Alternative forms

• bung starter

Etymology

From bung +‎ starter.

Noun

bungstarter (plural bungstarters)

1. A tool for opening barrels by removing the bung.
   • 1914, O. Henry, “Doubleday, Page & company, for Review of reviews co”, in Heart of the West, page 133:

     But he had not yet learned to estimate these cool, languid, Southwestern knights of the bungstarter, who had the manners of an Earl of Pawtucket, ...

   • 1929, John Russell, Color of the East, W. W. Norton, page 229:

     The Portuguese equivalent of bungstarter whiffed Angus Jones by an eyelash.

   • 1941, Clark Barnaby Firestone, Flowing South, National Travel Club, page 138:

     That's where the barkeeper took a bungstarter and killed a man who was shooting wild.

   • 1943, Ernest Thompson Seton, “The Seton village press”, in The Preacher of Cedar Mountain, page 134:

     "Pat, let me have that keg," and the schoolteacher proceeded to hammer around the bung, in the way of the orthodox bungstarter.

   • 1985, Cormac McCarthy, Blood Meridian […] , →OCLC:

     When he came around the end of the bar he laid down the pistol and he was carrying a bungstarter in one hand.